Young Newcastle fan, 9, caught skipping school after being caught on camera at Carabao Cup
A YOUNG Toon fan skipped school to attend the cup clash at Arsenal after his mum told teachers he was ill – only to be caught on camera celebrating Newcastle’s win.
Sammy Scott, nine, was desperate to travel to London with dad Mark for the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg.
So mum Claire, 40, told his school he was poorly which allowed him to miss lessons and head south for the crucial game on Tuesday evening.
But they landed in hot water when Sky cameras picked out jubilant Sammy clenching his fists and screaming in delight after Anthony Gordon grabbed the winner in the 2-0 victory.
Mark’s phone erupted with texts from friends telling him they had been on the television.
But an email from Sammy’s school also landed saying his absence would now be marked as “unauthorised”.
Plasterer Mark, of Forest Hall, North Tyneside, said: “We were right at the front of the Emirates and were celebrating when Gordon scored.
“The cameras panned round to us but obviously we didn’t know at the time that we had been on TV.
“Soon after my phone started going mad and people were sending us videos and messages saying: ‘We’ve just seen you and Sammy on tele’.
“We thought it was brilliant at the time but then Sky Sports News used the picture of Sammy as a still with the message ‘Geordie Joy’.
“It was nice but his school obviously got to see it because we got an email saying his sick day was now an unauthorised absence.”
The email from Benton Dene Primary said: “Just to let you know that Sammy’s absence from Tuesday 7th January 2025 will now be marked as unauthorised.
“This is due to media footage showing him away in London at a football match. Please contact us at school if you wish to discuss further.”
Mark posted it online and thousands of footie fans responded to support Sammy.
Even former England striker Peter Crouch said: “You’ve got to cut this boy some slack here. Memories for a lifetime.”
Mark, 39, who also has a daughter Georgie, 12, added: “The school has been really good with Sammy actually.
“His teacher is a big Newcastle fan – we even bumped into him at the Spurs game at the weekend – and he was making a joke of it with Sammy.
“It’s gone crazy online. It was one of those things that snowballs and absolutely blew up.
“People were sending me screenshots of accounts that had millions of followers that were posting about it including ex-players.
“It has been unbelievable.
“But Sammy is only nine and doesn’t realise how big it has become.
“He hasn’t got a care in the world and is just getting on with stuff as normal.
“He actually has a really good attendance record, almost 100 per cent. He is in the outstanding bracket at school for attendance.
“He loves his football and plays twice a week for a local side and trains three times a week.”
Newcastle’s victory puts them in the driving seat for the second leg at St James’ Park next month.
And Sammy is praying his heroes make it to the final and lift their first cup in 70 years.
Mark added: “We didn’t get tickets for the league cup final against Manchester United last year and he was devastated about that.
“But we are hoping we get there again and get tickets this time.
“And it’s on a Sunday so there won’t be any problem with school.”
A source close to the school said: “It was all quite light-hearted – the parents will not be fined.”